Window scraping device

ABSTRACT

A SCRAPING TOOL FOR REMOVING SNOW OR ICE FROM VEHICLE WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELDS WHICH INCLUDES A FLAT, FLEXIBLE BASE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF SCRAPING MEANS ARRANGED ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF IN SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL ROWS. THE OPPOSITE SURFACE OF THE BASE PREFERABLY INCLUDES THREE SPACED HANDLE MEANS ARRANGED TO PERMIT THE USER TO FLEX THE BASE TO CONFORM TO EITHER A CONCAVE OR   CONVEX SURFACE BY SELECTIVE PRESSURE ON CERTAIN OF THE HANDLE MEANS THEREBY ASSURING MAXIMUM CONTACT BETWEEN THE SCRAPING MEANS AND THE SURFACE BEING SCRAPED.

z, 1971 E. YOUNG WINDOW SCRAPING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1968 Z a F aw 2 a E E $5 a 4. m a a a F w? 4 9 y w a ETQ 7 a w m INVENTOR. EDWARD, L. YOUNG ill; 146.14! ATTORNEY United States PatentO 3,566,430 WINDOW SCRAPING DEVICE Edward L. Young, 415 Amity Road, Galloway, Ohio 43119 Filed Dec. 11, 1968, Ser. No. 782,937 Int. Cl. A471 1/06, 1/16 US. Cl. 236 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A scraping tool for removing snow or ice from vehicle windows and Windshields which includes a flat, flexible base provided with a plurality of scraping means arranged on one surface thereof in spaced, substantially parallel rows. The opposite surface of the base preferably includes three spaced handle means arranged to permit the user to flex the base to conform to either a concave or convex surface by selective pressure on certain of the handle means thereby assuring maximum contact between the scraping means and the surface being scraped.

The present invention relates generally to hand tools and particularly to a novel window scraping tool for removing frost and the like.

In general the scraping tool of the present invention comprises a flexible, substantially flat base provided with a plurality of outwardly extending scraping means. The scraping means are disposed in spaced substantially parallel rows and include a relatively sharp or pointed rigid tip adapted to remove snow, ice or frost and the like. On the opposite surface of the base relative to the scraping means, a plurality of handle means extend outwardly from the base.

As one aspect of the present invention, the flexible base provided with a plurality of scraping means aligned in substantially parallel rows permits the scraping tool to conform to the general contour of the surface being scraped to clean a larger surface area per stroke as compared to conventional window scraping tools.

As another aspect of the present invention, the preferred embodiment includes at least three spaced handle means to permit the user to flex the base to conform to either a concave or convex surface by selective pressure on certain of said handle means while pressing the device against the surface to be scraped.

As another aspect of the present invention, the novel construction of the base, scraping members and handle means lends itself to simple, relatively inexpensive manufacture by molding or the like into a single integrally formed unit. I

As still another aspect of the present invention, the preferred embodiment includes a plurality of scraping means, each comprising a plurality of scraping members. The scraping members are spaced relative to the next adjacent scraping members to permit the base to flex in a direction perpendicular to the length of the rows of scraping means as Well as in a direction parallel to the rows of scraping members.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a scraping device that readily conforms to either flat or curved surfaces.

'It is another object of the present invention to provide a window scraping device which removes frost from a vehicle windshield or window in a relatively easy manner as compared to prior scraping tools.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a window scraping device embodying the advantages enumerated above and yet which is of simple and inexpensive construction.

Further objects and advantages of the present inven- 3,566,430 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 ice tion will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a window scraping tool constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the opposite surface relative to the view shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the tool shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the tool shown in FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings a window scraping tool constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a substantially flat, relatively thin, flexible base 20.

The upper surface of base 20 preferably includes three spaced handle or gripping means 22, 24 and 26. The opposite surface of base 20 is provided with a plurality of outwardly extending scraping means, indicated generally at 28, which are arranged in substantially parallel rows.

Preferably, each row of scraping means comprise a plurality of individual, spaced scraping members such as at 30, which include a relatively sharp, rigid tip portion capable of removing ice, snow and frost from a smooth surface such as a vehicle window.

Base 20, handle means 22, 24 and 26 and scraping means 30 are preferably integrally formed from a moldable plastic material.

Members 30 are preferably spaced to permit base 20 to be flexed in a perpendicular direction relative to the length of the rows of scraping means 28 and the members 30 are staggered relative to the members 30 in adjacent rows to permit full coverage of the surface being scraped.

Handle means 22 and 24 are preferably disposed near but spaced from the outer side portions 32 and 34 of base 20. Then when placing the scraping means 28 against a convex surface, downward pressure applied by the user against handle means 22 and 26 'will flex base 20 in a longitudinal direction relative to the rows of scraping means 30 to permit the outer rows of scraping means 30 to contact the surface.

It should be pointed out that the degree of flexibility of base 20 is important in that base 20 should not be so flimsy that it is diflicult to apply enough pressure with the outermost rows of scraping means 28 against the surface being scraped while pressing down on handle means 22 and 26. Conversely, base 20 should not be so rigid that it becomes very diflicult to flex without extreme pressure being applied to the handle means 22 and 26.

Handle means 24 is preferably substantially centered on base 20 over the center row of the scraping means 30. Downward pressure on handle means 24 when the scraping means 28 are held against a concave surface flexes base 20 to conform therewith and permits all the scraping means to contact the concave surface.

For purposes of description, assuming the user is removing ice or frost from the outside surface of a vehicle windshield, the user merely places his thumb and fingers on the handle means 22 and 26- and applies downward pressure in making a series of strokes over the windshield surface.

Since most modern vehicle Windshields present a convex outer surface, the base 20 will flex to conform therewith to permit each row of scraping means 30 to be in force transmitting engagement with the windshield.

Under certain weather conditions, particularly when a window is left open, the inside of a vehicle windshield becomes frosted. Using the tool of the present invention, the user merely places the tool against the inside surface and exerts pressure on only handle 24. This flexes base 20 to conform with the concave inner surface of the windshield to permit each row of scraping means 28 to be in force transmitting engagement with the concave surface being scraped. Then a series of strokes are made to remove the frost.

It should be readily apparent from the foregoing description that the tool of the present invention covers a greater surface area of a curved surface in contrast to the conventional scraping tools which are relatively inflexible and cover a relatively narrow surface area of a curved surface.

In addition, the scraping tool of the present invention is adapted to conform to a surface having either a concave or convex configuration.

It should also be pointed out that there is no disadvantage is scraping a relatively flat surface when using the hand tool of the present invention which is best accomplished with pressure applied to other handle means 22 and 26.

It should also be noted that in some vehicle windshields there are certain areas that are convex or concave in both longitudinal and lateral directions. Using the scraping tool of the present invention the user can maintain substantially all of the scraping members 30 in contact with the surface of the windshield in these areas by placing his entire hand over the upper portion of base 20 and applying pressure near the outer edges of base 20 with his fingers and the butt of his palm. Since each scraping member 30 is spaced from adjacent scraping members in the same row, base 20 flexes in both a perpendicular and parallel direction relative to the length of the rows of scraping members to substantially conform to such a rounded surface.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A window scraping device comprising, in combination, a substantially flat, flexible base means including an upper and lower surface; a plurality of scraping means extending outwardly from said lower surface and arranged in substantially parallel rows spaced from one another; each of said scraping means including rigid scraping members having a base Wider than the tip portion which terminates in a sharp edge; and at least two handle means extending outwardly from said upper surface, each of said handle means being disposed near but spaced from outer edge portions of said base opposite one another.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said upper surface includes a third handle means extending upwardly therefrom and disposed substantially in the center of said upper surface between the other handle means.

3. A window scraping device comprising a substantially fiat, flexible base means including a plurality of scraping means extending outwardly from one surface of said base means in spaced substantially parallel rows, each of said scraping means including a plurality of spaced rigid scraping members disposed in a staggered relationship relative to thescraping members in the next adjacent row of scraping means; and at least three handle means extending outwardly from the opposite surface of said base means relative to said scraping members, said handle means being disposed in spaced relationship from one another with the outermost handle means being near but spaced from the edge portions of said base means opposite one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,017,081 2/1912 Collins 15-236 2,154,373 4/1939 Bulleigh l52i36X 2,752,623 7/1956 Tupper 15-236X 3,100,312 8/1963 Williams l5-215 3,413,675 12/1968 Westrum l5245 FOREIGN PATENTS 203,802 6/1939 Switzerland "5 151 8'8 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner L. G. MACHLIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 30l72 

